US 4,396,050 A · Log preparation for veneer peeling

Abstract

In a semi-batch practice of the process, the logs are plasticized using hot, pressurized alkaline liquid in a closed chamber having a preceding charging chamber and a succeeding unloading chamber. The chambers are selectively flooded and emptied to facilitate operations. A ram is used at the charging end to advance the logs. Spacers are placed in opposed pairs between successive charges. The unloading trough is equipped with a sling to facilitate advancement of the conditioned logs to the lathe. Process may be program-controlled, with monitoring of processing temperature, pressure, time, pH, processing solution constituency, and heat input. Additional variables may be input to the automatic controller, such as species, ambient log temperature, length of time since log harvest, veneer end-product (e.g. thickness and whether decorative quality is needed), log weight and log diameter. The process may also be more simply conducted in batchwise fashion.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method for conditioning logs for veneer peeling, comprising:

(a) introducing a first log charge including at least one log into a log conditioning chamber through a charging opening at one end of the chamber;
(b) closing and sealing the chamber;
(c) flooding the chamber with a log conditioning liquid comprising water and an alkaline chemical present in sufficient strength to maintain a pH of at least 7 in the log conditioning liquid;
(d) while maintaining said chamber in a flooded condition, circulating said log conditioning liquid into and out of said chamber;
(e) temporarily opening an unloading opening at an opposite end of the chamber and removing said first log charge from said chamber therethrough.

2 more elements

Apparatus for conditioning logs for veneer peeling, comprising:

wall means defining a log conditioning chamber having two opposite ends;
means defining a charging opening in one of said ends and an unloading opening in the other of said ends;
openable closure means for sealingly closing each of said openings;
log conditioning liquid inlet means to said chamber for flooding said chamber with log conditioning liquid;
log conditioning liquid drain means for draining log conditioning liquid from said chamber;
a closed circulation loop for log conditioning liquid outside said chamber, connected between said log conditioning liquid inlet means and said log conditioning liquid drain means;
said closed circulation loop including means for adding make-up water to said log conditioning liquid, means for filtering debris from said log conditioning liquid, means for adding heat to said log conditioning liquid, means for adding pH-raising chemicals to said log conditioning liquid, and means for pressurizing the log conditioning liquid while said chamber is flooded therewith in order to provide a substantially elevated pressure within said chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Log preparation for veneer peeling

Life of this patent

Log preparation for veneer peeling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36